Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
DEIDRE
M andy and I are up and out of the hotel with Vix by nine, needing to meet up with Claire for wedding things.
She goes over the seating arrangement, revealing that Mike and she have their table while Mandy and I will be sitting with Dad, Irene, and a few of the other bridesmaids and groomsmen.
A nervous feeling bubbles inside my belly at the thought of seeing the groomsmen.
I know all of them and haven’t seen them, except for Will, since I was fourteen.
Will is Mike’s only non-childhood friend; they met their freshman year in college.
Nervousness bubbles inside me at the thought of seeing these guys again. They were friendly to me when the divorce happened, but a lot of time has passed. What will they think of me for leaving and staying away? Then, it hits me. Why do I care what they think?
When lunchtime arrives, the rest of the bridesmaids are with us.
Claire reviews the wedding day details as well as the bachelorette party, so Mandy and I are aware of what’s planned.
Ever the planner, Claire has pictures or samples to show me to give me a better visual of what’s expected.
Though I’m not usually one for this much detail for a party, I know that Tony will be happy to have the information.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he already knows the dirt on everyone who will be in attendance.
It doesn’t take long for the group conversation to change from the wedding to me.
Many of the girls ask a lot of questions about my life in LA since they’ve heard stories from Claire.
I share just enough information to appease them.
A few of them mention how they’ve used Flirt a few times with great success.
Once I’m able to redirect the conversation back to the bridesmaids, my mind drifts back to some of the times Mike and I had with his friends, aka his groomsmen.
I can’t believe that Mike is the only one getting married out of all of them.
I guess I can, but at the same time, I thought at least one or two more of them would be in a serious relationship.
You’d think they’d be settling down by now with them being almost thirty. Is that normal for men?
From what Claire said, none of them have had a long-term girlfriends.
Luke and Will have had a few, but none of them really stuck, let alone got along well with the rest of the group.
I guess I shouldn’t judge. I’m twenty-five and have yet to be in a serious relationship with anyone, especially one where I said I love you to a guy.
Once, my dad told me that my mother wasn’t how she is now and that they were actually in love.
Honestly, I can’t believe that my mother has been in love with anyone other than herself.
What’s the point of getting married if you’re not in love?
I can see why Claire and Mike are getting married—they’ve got it . The it being love.
Other than my dad and Irene, Claire and Mike are the only other couple I know who honestly love each other.
I’m not sure how I know, but I can see it when they look at each other.
There’s a small part of me that’s hopeful that I could find it one day—in the very distant future.
At the same time, I can’t fill my head with such fantasies.
Work prevents me from being able to date at the moment.
Plus, how would I know that a guy really loves me and vice versa?
How would I know that we’d last and not end up just like everyone else who gets divorced?
Why am I even thinking about any of this?
After lunch, Mandy and I head back to our hotel, hoping to take a nap before the craziness that will be the bachelorette party tonight.
I’m fairly certain that Claire is going to want to cut loose, not that she’s not excited about marrying Mike, but more for the sake of releasing stress and tension from getting the wedding ready for the past fourteen months.
By six, Mandy and I are in a limo that I rented for the night, offering it to Becca, Claire’s maid of honor, as part of my wedding gift, so no one would have to worry about being a designated driver.
First, we head to Claire’s favorite sushi restaurant for dinner.
We drink a few rounds of sake to get the night started before hitting the streets for some fun.
By nine, our group of ten women arrives at a strip club.
The night starts off good, with cute, practically naked men and all of the girls getting their drink on.
Mandy has a few sips, but takes it easy like me.
I have an image to uphold, yes, but I also need my wits about me.
Tony is new to the team. I don’t want to scare him off from doing his job.
We seem to get each other and I appreciate how he’s not overbearing.
At some point, Claire feels a little freer than usual.
She strikes up a conversation between the two of us.
A few words are spoken and I’m hoping I’ve misunderstood her.
Unfortunately, Claire continues to speak openly to me about her sex life.
That’s my cue to leave. If she was talking about sex in general, fine, but the fact that she keeps saying Mike’s name is creeping me out.
When Claire continues to drone on, I find a way to escape to the ladies’ room. Claire follows me, so I’m forced to get Mandy to take my place. I text Tony to meet me by the bar.
“Tony,” I say when he approaches, keeping my eyes on my phone as if I’m texting someone.
“Yeah,” he replies.
“I’m leaving to catch up with my brother.”
“I’ll get the car,” he states.
“No.”
“Pardon?” he replies.
“I need you to stay with the ladies.”
“I’m not paid to babysit drunk women,” he counters.
“I know,” I sigh, trying hard not to look at him. “I need you to make sure they don’t do anything stupid.”
“How do I know you aren’t going to do something stupid if I stay?” he challenges.
“I’m still sober.”
“Yeah, I noticed that,” he confirms which gets me to smile.
“I just want to catch up with my brother. He’s having his bachelor party and, in all honesty, I’m sure I’d have more fun with the guys.”
Tony doesn’t reply.
I look up and ask, “What?”
“I didn't say anything,” he returns.
“That’s why I’m asking.”
“My job is to protect you.”
“I know,” I huff. “But….”
“I’ve got a guy,” he interrupts. “Let me call him. He’ll keep an eye on the girls.”
“Tell him I’ll pay him extra.”
Tony’s lips turn up a little. “He’ll be happy to hear that.”
“Why is that?”
“He’s not one for these kinds of situations,” he states.
“Then, why would you call him?”
“He’s the only one I would trust in this situation,” Tony claims.
“Trust?”
His smile widens. “That and I’d be curious to hear the aftermath tomorrow. He’s not one for handling this many women.”
“Should I be concerned…for him?”
“Nah,” Tony quips. “He owes me anyway.”
I smile and nod. “I don’t think I want to know.”
“I’ll fill you in one day…depends on how well our contract goes,” he informs.
I shrug. “You plan on ditching me sometime soon?”
Tony chuckles. “Nah. You seem pretty cool.”
“Thanks,” I say with a smile. “So do you.”
Twenty minutes later, Tony texts me that his guy has arrived. I make my way outside and find Tony in the SUV already waiting for me. As I sit in the back seat, a grin smears across my face as I imagine the different ways my brother will respond to me crashing his party. This is going to be good.
“Hey, guys,” I greet, walking up to Mike’s table, dragging over a bar stool for me to sit on.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Mike asks, choking on his bottle of beer.
“You bitched about me not seeing you enough,” I remind with a smile, hugging him sideways.
“Who’s this?” Brad asks. “Has she been sent by the girls to spy on us?”
“Is she a stripper?” Kevin asks nervously. “Who ordered a stripper? We said no strippers.”
“Sounds like a lame bachelor party if there aren’t any strippers,” I snicker.
“The party isn’t lame,” Kevin returns defensively.
I toss my hair over my shoulder. “It’s lame.”
“Who are you?” Brad asks.
“You don’t remember me?” I lift a brow and gasp. “I’m offended.”
“Dei,” Will exclaims as he picks me up from behind.
“Hey, Will,” I reply, kissing him on the cheek. “I didn’t see you.”
“I was indisposed for a moment.”
“TMI,” I return with a grin.
“Let me look at you,” he directs, spinning me by my hand. “Damn girl, you look good after five years. Different…but good different.”
“Thanks,” I laugh.
“Watch it,” Mike directs sternly.
“Dei…as in your dorky sister, Deidre?” Kevin quips.
The rest of Mike’s friends stare at me as if they’re being punked.
“She’s not dorky,” Will defends. “She’s hotter than your last girlfriend…if you can even call her that.”
“Watch it,” Mike warns.
“Thanks," I say, blushing a little.
All the guys eye me while Will inquires about what’s been going on since he last saw me. He also comments on the pink streaks in my hair and how they’re fitting.
“You can’t be here,” Kevin states suddenly.
“What?!” I snap. “This is a public place.”
“You know what he means,” Brad defends, pushing up his glasses. “Bachelor parties are guys only.”
“I can see with the lack of strippers,” I say. “Besides…that’s sexist.”
“No, it’s not,” Kevin counters.
“Then why are gay guys at bachelorette parties?” I return snidely.
Kevin’s mouth opens to comment, but nothing comes out.
“See.” I wag my finger. “Sexist.”
“Dei, why are you here?” Mike asks calmly.
“What does it look like I’m doing, ass? Celebrating your final day of bachelorhood. The last time my brother had the chance to bang any other chick.”
“Dei,” Mike sighs.
“What?” I laugh, loving how I’m getting a rise out of him.
“You’re killing the vibe,” Kevin informs.
“Did you just say vibe?” I ask, biting back a laugh.
“This isn’t meant for female siblings to attend,” Kevin explains, taking a sip of his wine. “Only men.”